BMS plans rally in Delhi against fuel price hike

New Delhi, Nov 4 (IANS) Strongly opposing the petrol price hike announced by the central government a day earlier, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) Friday said it will hold a massive protest rally here Nov 23 to draw the attention of parliament to the plight of the nation’s work force.

On the occasion, it will also press for other demands, including fixation of higher minimum wages, restoration of the old pension scheme for government employees, and improving social security for organised sector workers.

BMS general secretary Baij Nath Rai told reporters here that it had called all its units nationwide to hold protests against the anti-poor policies of the central government.

“BMS strongly opposed the petrol price hike and calls all units to launch nationwide protests against anti-poor policies of the central government. BMS feels that the central government is under pressure of private monopolies and indiscriminately raising prices,” Rai said here at a press conference called to announce the national rally in Delhi on Nov 23.

“Over two lakh workers from different industries will knock the doors of parliament in support of national movement launched by BMS against corruption, price rise, and for strict implementation of the labour laws,” he said.

Among the demands would be fixing of minimum wages. He said minimum wage should be fixed at 10 percent of the highest income for any person in the country.

“In order to end the gap between incomes, minimum wage should be fixed at 1:10 ratio vis-a-vis highest income earned in society,” he said.

BMS will also demand a minimum pension of Rs.3,000 per month linked with price index for industrial workers, he said.